Apparatus for handling cast plates



y 1934. w. F. EPPENSTEINER ET AL 1,960,002

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES v Filed Dec. 27. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Wax/(aim .z 'ymtarzer anon, m WW 5 i Q g y 2, 193% w. F. EPPENSTElNER Er AL ,960,002

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES Filed Dec. 27, 1930 Y '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES Filed Dec; 27, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' I Q INVENTORS:

By A tlo rneys,

' May 22, 193%.

W. F. EPPENSTElNER ET AL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES Filed Dec. 27, 1,930 5 Sh eets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 57 y Atiorneys,

-May 22;1934. w. F. EPPENSTEINER El ,AL 1,960,002

I APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES Filed Dec. 27, 1930' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTORS v Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 7 1,960,002 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CAST PLATES Application December 27, 1930, SerialNo. 505,100

' 13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for hanclling copper anode plates or other similar fiat castings, whereby to lift them from the molds, deposit them successively in a bosh for cooling and for insuring their correct spacing and conveyance to the means whereby they are transferred to the anode cars or other means for transporting them.

The invention is designed for application to an ordinary casting table or wheel having a succession of flat or horizontal molds in which the plates or fiat castings (hereinafter referred to as anodes) are cast. At the delivering position the molds are successively brought over a lifter which pushes up the casting, tilting it to a position where it is accessible to the take-off. The take-off comprises a pair of tongs called a grabher, having grab-arms which take hold of the anode on opposite sides so that it may be lifted; a lifting device engaging the tongs or grab-arms acting to elevate them with the plate to a suitable height; means for carrying the anode bodily over one end of the bosh tank; means for lowering the anode into the bosh for cooling and depositing it upon a pair of conveyors; the bosh tank having conveyors on which the anodes may restyand means for moving these conveyors to carry the successive anodes under a lifting rack; adjustable means for varying the movement imparted to the conveyors whereby to determine the spacing of the anodes to agree with the spacing required for the lifting rack'; and a lifting rack or other means for collectively lifting a convenient number or series of anodes to carry them 5 to .any suitable conveying mechanism such as the usual anode racks or cars.

Various novel features of construction will be indicated as the description proceeds.

A suitable and the preferred form of apparatus embodying this invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein' Figure 1 is a plan showing aportion of the casting wheel or tabla-and the bosh and its ac- 5 cessories.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and showing also the grab-arms and lifter for carrying the anodes from the molds to the bosh.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the bosh.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation viewed from the rear of the grab-arms, showing them in engagement with an anode, the section being on the line 4-4 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the grab-arms in engagement with the anode.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the grab-arms and mold showing the arms before they engage the anode, the pivotal, portions of the arms and adjacent parts being in section.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the pivotal portion of the grab-arm structure or head.

' Fig. 8 is a similar view, the outer plate being removed.

Fig. 9 is an elevation viewed from the opposite side of 'Fig. 2, showing the grab-arms and lifter and the carried anode, certain parts being in vertical mid-section.

Fig. .10 is a similar view to Fig. 9, showing the parts in a different position, the sectional portions being in the same plane.

Fig. 11 is a plan partly in horizontal section, showing the means for operating the stop carrying arm.

Fig. 12 is an cal section.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a fragment of Figs.

11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is an elevation illustrating another fragmentary. portion of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation'of the conveyor driving and spacing mechanism partly in section on the line 15-15 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a section of parts shown in Fig. 15 taken on the line 1616 in that figure.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is any usual casting wheel or other type of continuous casting machine having a succession of molds, one of which, B, is shown in plan, the others being filled with the anode castings C, C, except in the position C where the anode casting is tilted up or partly lifted out, as'shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose a pusher or ejector D is provided which may be a pressure-operated ram which engages under and lifts a pin a forming part of the mold, so that the head of the pin lifts the newly cast anode 0 near one side. or edge, thereby tilting it up partly out of the mold, as shown. In this position it is grasped by the grab-arms of the tongs or grabber E. This grabber is connected to a lifter F which may be a pneumatic cylinderand piston, whereby the grabber and the anode are lifted to the position shown in dotted lines at E in Fig. 2. The grabber is then moved horizontally over one end portion of the bosh G. This is best accomplished by mounting the lifter F to move horizontally whereby it is carried from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines elevation thereof partly in vertiat F' in Fig. 2. The lifter F is shown as a vertical cylinder having a piston or plunger. To give the horizontal movement, the cylinder is shown as carried on a car or trolley H, the wheels shown in Fig. 3.

The grabber having been moved horizontally to the position shown in dotted lines at E" in Fig. 2, is lowered to bring the anode down into the bosh until its lugs rest upon the conveyors.

In this position the grab-arms are separated to release their grip on the anode and remain separated while the grabber is again' elevated, after which it executes a backward horizontal movement to the position E and is then again lowered forv repeating the operation. Meanwhile the table A has turned to bring the next successive mold with its carried anode to the position C in Fig. l.

The conveyors I are moved either continuous- 1y, or preferably intermittently, at such rate that the successive anodes deposited upon. them are spaced uniformly a suitable distance apart. These conveyor movements carry the anodes beneath a lifting rack K (Fig. 2) of usual construction having hooks 0 adapted, upon its being lowered, to pass between the successive lugs b, b and by a side movement to hook under these lugs so that as the rack K is lifted (by a crane or any other suitable lifting means, not shown), the entire series of anodes of any suitable number are lifted above and clear of the tank G and are carried away for deposit upon the usual anode racks or tram-cars.

The general nature of the apparatus and its operation being thus understood, the apparatus will now be described more in detail.

The grabber E comprises a head L to which are pivoted the grab-arms M, M, the preferred construction being that shown in Figs. 4 to 10. The head is carried by the lifter through any suitable connection. In the construction shown it is mounted on the lower end of a piston rod N entering a cylinder F and connected to the piston, working within this cylinder (not shown) since the preferred form of lifter is a pneumatic cylinder and piston. The grab-arms M are hinged to the head L by pins (1, d. The arms have at their outer ends inturned spurs e, e, which, in action, penetrate or bite into the opposite sides of the copper anode C. When first lowered to pick up the anode, the ends of the arms strike the face of the mold, as shown in Fig. 6, which brings the spurs to the proper level for engaging about midway the thickness of the plate as the grabber is lifted. As the grabber is raised by the operation of the lifter, the arms gravitate toward each other and the spurs imbed themselves in the metal of the anode, as shown in Fig. 4. The parts are so proportioned that the upward thrust or pull acts strongly to draw the opposite spurs together so that they are forced to enter the metal of the anode. They thus get a firm biting hold upon is, so that the continued lift of the grabber necesfull lines in Fig 9, it encounters a stop 0 which holds it at this angle during the remaining upward movement of the lifter and during the horizontal movement to carry the anode over the top of the end of the tank G. When reaching the position shown at E" in Fig. 2, the stop 0 is withdrawn so that the anode falls to a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 and in Fig. 2. The stop 0 is best made as a roller 1 carried on an arm g which turns on a pin it set on top of the head and having another arm y by which the stop may be turned, as will be later described.

From the position shown at E (Fig. 2), the grabber descends to lower the anode into the bosh, and at the end of this movement the ends of the arms M, M strike a plate 1 which serves as a stop and forces the arms apart so that their spurs e are caused to let go their hold on the anode, the movement being sufiicient to carry the arms to about the positions shown in Fig. 6. It is necessary to make such provision that upon the immediate ensuing upward movement of the grabber, the arms shall not re-engage the anode. While this might be otherwise accomplished, the preferable means is by locking the arms in their nearly horizontal position so that they cannot fall toward each other and whereby they are held in that position during the ascent of the grabber and its horizontal return movement to theposition E in Fig. 2, and during its descent to the position shown in Fig. 6. This is accomplished by interposing a stop P in such position as to inter,- cept the arms M and prevent their inward movement. For this purpose the arms M are formed with short arms terminating in stop pins or screws 7', 7' (Figs. 4 and 6) which are preferably adjustable. In the extended position of the arms, stop P enters between these pins 1 so that as the head rises and the arms start to fall together, the pins 7 strike the intervening stop P and are thereby prevented from falling farther. The stop P might be variously constructed and arranged, but preferably it is made as a rotary stop or wheel,

as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, being formed with ratchet teeth engaged by a pawl k which is carried by a gravitating slide 1, the lower end of which drops beneath the remainder of the head to the position shown in'Fig. 9, and as the grabber descends to engage the anode, the end of this slide strikes the anode, as shown in Fig. 10, and is thereby pushed out relatively to the head so that the pawl acts upon one of the ratchet teeth to turn the wheel P and thereby bring one of its notches m (Fig. 10) into coincidence with the stop pins :1; so that upon the ensuing upward movement of the grabber the gravitating movement of the arms in swinging the pins inwardly meets no resistance since the pins enter the notches so that the arms continue to swing downwardly and inwardly to imbed their spurs into the edges of the anode. The same mechanism serves for interposing the stop between the pins 7 when the arms are forced apart to release the anode as it is deposited in the bosh; since by that movement the gravitating'slide l strikes at its lower end upon the shelf i and forces the pawl it relatively upward, .thereby turning the stop wheel P the distance of one ratchet tooth. As

shown in Fig. 10, there are two ratchet teeth to each recess m, so that the successive ratchet movements alternately interpose the stop and displace it to bring its recesses m into position to be entered by the pins 7'. To provide for a varying upward movement of the drop slide 1 the pawl is provided with a lug or tail k (Fig. 9), which, in its upward movement, strikes the bottom of the front plate n of the head which acts to throw back the pawl, as shown in Fig. 10, after which the plate Z may continue its upward movement without carrying the. pawl and ratchet tooth too far. To hold the ratchet wheel in position after each movement, the spring-pressed pin 0 (Fig. 10) is provided, which presses downwardly upon one of the ratchet teeth and affords sufficient resistance to its movement to prevent any accidental displacement and thereby to hold the recesses m in proper coincidence with the stop pins 7. This ratchet stop construction constitutes a form of tripper for automatically locking the grabarms in their outward position and for releasing them to permit them to swing inwardly, and any other suitable construction of stop and tripper may be substituted for accomplishing the same essential functions.

The preferred means for operating the arm 9 carrying the stop 0 are shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. The arms g, g (Figs. 9 and 10) have a hub turning on the pin h which forms a vertical pivotal axis. The pin it being mounted on the head L partakes of the horizontal displacement of the head which is a straight line movement and brings the pin to the successive positions shown at h, h and h." in Fig. 11, its axis traveling on the line 1:, a: which is parallel with the longitudinal center of the bosh. In the position shown in Fig. 9 the stop roller 0 is shown projecting in front of the head L so that in moving from the position E toward the position E in Fig. 2 the stop holds the anode in the inclined position shown, so that its heel may pass freely over the top of the tank. During this forward movement the arm g strikes a normally stationary arm Q standing in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 11. As the pin it moves toh' this stop arm Q swings the arm g' around to the position shown in dotted lines at g", and between the pivot positions h and h" the end of the arm g slides past the end of the stop arm Q and then swings freely to the position shown in dotted lines at g' in Fig. 11. During these movements the stop 0 is swung sidewise to the position shown in Fig. 5, at which point the anode C hangs vertically, as shown in dotted lines at e in Fig. 2. The stop arm Q is pressed into its normal position by a spring qwhich holds its short arm-against a stop 1', which may desirably be an adjusting screw. In the last described position the grabber head descends to deposit the anode in the bosh, as described; and upon its reascent the army comes up to the level of the stop arm Q (see Fig. 12) being in the position 9" in Fig. 11. Then at the beginning of the return movement of the grabber head from E" to E (Fig. 2), the arm 9' strikes against the opposite side or within the hook ofv the stop arm Q, and pushes the latter backward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, and

by its continued movement frees itself from this hooked stop arm, which then springs back t9 its full line position, leaving the arm 9. 'in its original angular position, which position it retains to the rear end of its travel and during the next picking up operation.

The stop arm Q and its spring and stop are shown as mounted on a plate Q which is supported from the overhead framework by an inverted pedestal R of telescopic construction, its lower member R being'adjustable up or down in its upper member, and fastened in any one of several positions by a screw bolt or pin 1 passing through one of a series of holes in lower member R (Fig. 13).

When the anode has swung to its vertical position it is desirable to provide it with means for holding it steadily in such position so that any tendency to swing pendulously may be eliminated before it is lowered into the bosh. For this purpose at each side of the machine-there is provided a yielding stop S having a vertical face adapted to be engaged by one of the anode lugs b (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12) so that the two stops bearing against both lugs serve to steady the anode and press it into its vertical plane, in which, after this tendency to swing has been suppressed, it hangs naturally in a vertical plane. Each stop S is pivoted on a pin or screw s (preferably adjustable vertically) on a bracket S forming part of the fixed framework, and is engaged at t by a spring-pressed rod it which is pressed forward by a spring 1) and'limited in its forward movement by a stop it to hold the yielding stop S normally in the position shown. As-the anode swings to a vertical position its lugs 12 having passed under the yielding stop S come up in front of it (to the right in Fig. 14) and may bear against its front surface if the anode tends to swing beyond the vertical.

Other and additional means for steadying and guiding theanode' before and during its descent into the bosh may be provided when deemed necessary.

It is desirable to be able to adjust the spacing I of the anodes as they are deposited in the bosh in order that'their spacing may accurately correspond to that of the hooks c of the rack K or whatever other means is provided for subsequently transporting the series of anodes. This is accomplished by varying the step by step movement imparted to the conveyors I, I. The mechanism for accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 1, 15 and 16. The conveyors I are preferably chains, one

.of which is shown in Fig. 15, and their carrier wheels J are sprockets. The driving sprockets 'are carried on a shaft T, which, passing outside the tank, has fixed on it a gear wheel T driven by a pinion T" geared on a shaft w on which is carried a sprocket wheel U which is driven by pawls y, 1, carried on a rock lever V fulcrumed on the shaft T. The free end of this lever is connected by an adjustable yielding connecting rod W which receives motion from an electromotor X (or other source of power) through any suitable gearing, such as the pinion 21 and gear 22, the latter carrying a crank 23 engaging the connecting rod. In the construction shown, the pawls y are pivoted within a shell 24 attached to the lever 'V and the pawls are set sothat they lap for different distances over the respective teeth, so that only one pawl need engage a tooth at one time, their arrangement having the effect of multiplying the number of teeth by the number of equally spaced pawls thus applied. The movement transmitted from the crank 23 to the lever V is'positive in the direction of feed, but is yielding and variable on the return movement. This is accomplished by providing an adjustable stop Y to limit the back stroke .of the lever and interposing a spring S in the connecting rod W which yields on the back stroke when the lever V is hek motionless against thestop, and until on the next forward stroke the free movement is taken up and the direct pull of the rod W against the free end of the lever again occurs. The stop is mounted on a fixed part Z of the frame and is adjustable by means of a screw 25. During the feeding movement the pullimparted through the rod rocks the lever from its set position against the stop Y (shown in dotted lines at V) forward and thereby seeks to roll the pinion T" around the gear T, but this movement is stopped by the abutment of a ratchet tooth against one of the pawls 11 which immobilizes pinion T on the lever, and consequently the angular movement of the lever is imparted to the gear T and hence to the sprockets and conveyors. On the return movement the gear T remains stationary'while the pinion T rolls around it, the ratchet U turning freely under the pawls 11, until at the end of its movement (shown at V) the lever strikes the stop Y andone of the pawls drops into engagement with a ratchet tooth.

By means of this mechanism the effective stroke may be adjusted by setting the stop Y forward or back and thereby the feed of the conveyors I, I may be regulated to a nicety.

The apparatus as thus described is adapted to keep pace with any casting machine for casting anodes or-other such objects and serves for removing them from the molds and conveying them by suitably timed and spaced movements into the bosh. v

One of the advantages of the invention is that the anodes are gripped at their bodyportions where there is ample resisting metal and not engaged at their ears which are relatively slender and fragile. Heretofore anodes have been lifted and transported by their ears only. The spur engagement shown is well adapted for soft metals, such as copper, but for harder metals other engaging means may-be substituted.

It is necessary to provide some means for causing the grabber to move inparallel manner and thereby ensure that it shall descend into proper relation with the anode, and when carrying over the bosh that it shall bring the successive anodes into parallel position. For this purpose any suitable guide may be provided engaging, respective ly, the grabber head and the lifter. A convenient and desirable construction is that shown in Figs, 2, 5, and 10, comprising a long arm or rod Z having a fork 16 pivoted tothe head by means of a pin 17; the rod Z having sliding engagement with an oscillating guide piece 18 pivotally mounted upon an arm 19 projecting from the cylinder of the lifter F. As this cylinder has itself no vertical movement, it serves to definitely locate the guide 18 with respect to the grabber head so that in its rising and falling movements the engagement of the rod with the guide serves to hold'the head uniformly in the vertical plane in which it moves.

While the invention has been described with special reference to the handling of anodes, it is to be understood that his applicable to'other castings in plate form or any analogous form such as is adapted to the mechanism set forth or suitable modifications thereof.

While the apparatus described constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention for handling anodes, it is understood that it is susce'ptible of such modifications as may be suggested by the constructor to adapt it for any other use.

' a head carried by the lifter, and gravitating arms pivoted to the head and carrying spurs adapted to enter the edges of the plate, the arm when opened to engage the plate projecting flOm their pivots nearly horizontally, and the head having stop means for holding them in such position, the arms adapted to be lifted from said stop means and to gravitate into biting engagement with the plate, and a stationary stop in position to engage and lift the arms as the grabber is lowered, to separate the spurs.

2. A mechanism for lifting a plate from a substantially horizontal position, comprising a grabber having a head and a lifter engaging said head, arms pivoted to the head and projecting nearly horizontally in their opened position, a stop carried by the head in position to engage said arms and hold them open, and stop operating means adapted to displace the stop to free the arms and permit them to gravitate into engagement with the plate to be lifted.

3. A mechanism forlifting a plate from a substantially horizontal position, comprising a grabber and a lifter therefor, the grabber having a head and arms pivoted thereto projecting nearly horizontally in their opened position, and carrying spurs at their outer ends adapted to enter the edges of the plate, combined with a fixed part beneath the arms in position to engage the ends of the opened arms as the grabber is lowered, and holding them open in such position, the arms adapted to close into engaging position by gravity, whereby as the grabber is lifted away from said fixed part the arms gravitate into engagement with the plate.

4. A mechanism for lifting a horizontally cast plate from its mold, comprising in combination with the mold a means for partly lifting one side of the plate from the mold, and a grabber having a head and widely spreading arms pivoted thereto and projecting nearly horizontally from their pivots, and having downturned ends carrying spurs adapted upon the lifting of the grabber tov gravitateinto engagement with the edges of the plate, said spurs located to one side of the center of gravity of the plate, so that when lifted the plate will turn on the spurs as pivots from its horizontal to a more nearly vertical position.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, having in association with the grabber a stop for arresting the turning of the plate around its spur pivots, whereby as the grabber is lifted, the plate is held in an oblique position.

6. A'mechanism according to claim 4, having in association with the grabber a movable stop for arresting the turning of the plate around its spur pivots, whereby as the grabber is lifted, the plate is held in an oblique position, and means for displacing said movablestop to permit the lifted apart, and a ratchet and pawl carried by the head adapted to rotate the stop for holding or releasing the arms.

9. In an apparatus for handling plates, a grabber comprising a head and arms, a stop interposed between portions of the arms for holding the arms apart, the stop comprising a ratchet having a pawl carried by the head,- and a dependent member carried by the head and projecting downward to be displaced by contact with an object beneath and adapted to operate said pawl to operate the stop to free the arms.

10. An apparatus for handling cast plates, comprising a grabber having arms adapted to pivotally engage the opposite edges of the plate, a carrier for said grabber, movable horizontally, a stop to limit the pivotal displacement of the plate, a lever mounted on the head, carrying said stop, and a normally stationary part in the path of said lever and adapted to engage and turn it during the horizontal movement of the grabber to displace the stop and permit the plate to turn about said pivotal engagement.

11. An apparatus for handling cast plates, comprising a grabber having arms adapted to pivotally engage the opposite edges of the plate at one side of the center of gravity of the plate, a carrier for said grabber with means for moving it vertically and horizontally, and a stop member carried by the grabber to prevent the plateswinging to a vertical position, said stop member having means thereon for engagement with a stationary member during horizontal movement of said carrier and grabber in one direction, and said stationary member located to so engage said means to displace the stop member from its normal position and allow the plate to gravitate toward a vertical position. v

. 12. An apparatus for handling plates, comprisplane.

ing a grabber having arms adapted to pivotally engage the opposite edges of the plate, a carrier for said grabber with means for moving it vertically and horizontally, a stop carried by the grabber to prevent the plate swinging to a vertical position and to hold the plate durng the ascent and horizontal travel of the grabber, and a lever carrying said' stop having an operating arm adapted to engage a normally stationary operating member located in the path. of said lever, and said stationary member adapted to engage it during the horizontal movement of the grabber to displace the stop from engagement with the plate and adapted during thereturn horizontal movement of the grabber to re-engage said arm for restoring the stop to its original position.

13. The combination with a horizontal tray mold, of means for removing cast plates therefrom, comprising a lifting pin in the mold at one side thereof for tilting up one side of the plate to bring it above the mold, a vertically movable grabber having widely-spreading nearly horizontal gravitating lateral arms carrying spurs adapted to separate wider than the plate, the grabber located to engage said spurs with the tilted plate to one side of its center of gravity, said arms movable into contact with the mold as the grabber is lowered to so spread the arms as to enable the spurs to. engage the opposite side edges of the plate, and movable toward each other by gravitation as the grabber is lifted to cause the spurs to penetrate said side edges, and means for elevating the grabber whereby to lift the plate above the mold, whereby the plate in lifting turns on said spur-s by gravitation from its horizontal casting position toward a vertical WILLIAM F. EPPENSTEINER. WILLIAM F. EPPENS'I'EINER. 

